Grain growers in western Europe will need rain to ease this month to progress with spring planting, after a wet February maintained soggy field conditions that have already put the region on course for a smaller wheat harvest, analysts said.

Europe’s grain farms await rain break after damp winter
Weak prices for maize could encourage planting other crops

France drops plan to decrease farmers’ diesel discount
Protests to continue on unanswered questions says farming union
The French government dropped plans to gradually reduce state subsidies on agricultural diesel but that seems not enough for angry farmers surrounding Paris and still threatening to converge on the capital in their tractors.

Explainer: Why are French farmers protesting?
Many farmers feeling pinched by costs, imports, environmental regulations and disregarded by French society
French farmers are blocking roads across the country to demand government action to address numerous grievances, as protests in the European Union's agricultural sector spread. Here are some of the issues that have prompted the growing protest movement and how the government could respond.

Richardson buys into European malt market
Winnipeg agrifood firm buys U.K.-based Anglia Maltings
Paris | Reuters — Canada’s biggest grain merchant Richardson International is entering the malt sector through the acquisition of U.K.-based Anglia Maltings Holdings (AMH), targeting rising demand for the beer […] Read more

Morocco adjusts wheat import scheme in nod to Black Sea
Move could bump up competition among exporters
Rabat/Paris | Reuters — Morocco, a major cereal importer, has modified its wheat import subsidy scheme to make it easier for companies to bring in cargoes from the Black Sea […] Read more

EU cuts estimate of drought-hit maize crop, raises import outlook
Commission cuts soft wheat exports, raises imports
Paris | Reuters — The European Commission on Friday cut its estimate of this year’s drought-hit maize harvest in the European Union to a new 15-year low while again raising […] Read more

Grain exporters tap EU supplies as war shuts Ukraine ports
Hamburg/Paris | Reuters — Grain exporters are looking for alternative sources of wheat and corn as a Russian invasion cuts off Ukrainian supplies, with European Union producers Romania and France […] Read more

China’s appetite for feed barley sucks in new crop from Canada, France
Tariff on Australian barley favours other suppliers
Paris | Reuters — China’s buying spree of French and Canadian barley is spilling into the 2021-22 crop with large forward purchases, due to its major feed grain needs and […] Read more

InVivo in talks to acquire French agribusiness Soufflet
Firms see limited overlap outside grain trading
Paris | Reuters — Co-operative group InVivo has entered exclusive talks to acquire family-controlled Soufflet in a deal that would create one of Europe’s biggest agricultural businesses with 10 billion […] Read more

Barley trade routes redrawn as China tariff hits Australian farmers
China's barley purchases from Canada more than double last year's
Sydney/Paris | Reuters — Out in Australia’s grain fields, farmers have started harvesting one of their biggest-ever barley crops, after drought-relieving rains convinced many to plant to the edges of […] Read more